Swede likely to head top military council

The supreme commander of Sweden’s armed forces, Håkan Syrén, appears likely to become the next chairman of the EU’s highest military council, the European Union Military Committee, as no other candidate has emerged to succeed the current occupant, France’s General Henri Bentégeat.

A decision on the successor of Bentégeat should be made on 29 October by the chiefs of defence of EU member states. EU foreign ministers would then be expected to confirm the appointment on 10 November.

The European Union Military Committee (EUMC) is a purely consultative body, but its composition – it brings together all EU chiefs of defence – and its role as an adviser to EU defence ministers makes it a highly influential voice on all military matters within the EU.

Syrén would not take up the post until Bentégeat’ s three-year mandate runs out in November 2009.

Crucially, Syrén, who was nominated by the Swedish government in August, reportedly enjoys the support of France and Germany.

The probable appointment of Syrén, who has headed Swedish forces since 2004, is being interpreted as recognition of the success of Sweden’s first-ever stint as commander of the Nordic Battlegroup, one of 18 EU military sub-groupings. The 2,800-strong battlegroup is highly internatinoal, with soldiers from Sweden, Finland, Norway, Ireland and Estonia.

Sweden is a neutral state, but in recent years it has participated increasingly deeply in EU military operations.